A PROCLAMATION Ordering the whole Militia benorth the River of Forth, to be in readiness with fifteen days Provision, when called out, etc.  
CHARLES', by the Grace of GOD, King of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; To Our Lion King at Arms, and his brethren Heralds, Macers of Our Privy Council Pursuivants, or Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, Greeting:  
Forasmuch, as severals of the Inhabitants of the Western and Southern Shires, of this Our ancient Kingdom, notwithstanding of the great Peace, Tranquillity and Plenty, wherewith GOD hath blessed them, under Our Royal Government, the Justice, and Equity of Our Administrations, and of Our great care of preserving the Protestant Religion, in its Truth and Purity; Have at several times; and on several occasions, not only moved Sedition, and run into many irregular, and illegal Tumults, but likewise, having casten off all Fe●r of GOD, all Duty to Us, all Affection to their native Country, and all Regard to the Laws, Divine and Humane, did, at divers times, rise in open Rebellion, and to that height of Boldness and Impiety, that they have, by Open Force, Attacked Our Armies, Disclaimed Our Royal Authority, Excommunicate Our Sacred Person, and did as far as in them 〈◊〉 throw these happy Nations into the Miseries of War and Ruin; by so much the more dreadful than former Rebellions, that these who carried on the recent Seditions, have far outdone all others, in demonstrating, the Villainies of their Principles, by their Practices; and have at length come to these heights of Wickedness, the Blasphemy, Treason, Assassination, Murders and Robberies are owned by them, as the highest Principles of their Religion, and the best practice of their Morals; And albeit GOD in his great Mercy hath blessed Our Government with such Success, that both by the force of Our Arms, and the regular Procedors' of Our Judges, their Attempts have been on all occasions Defeat, and many of their persons brought to condign punishment: Yet so far hath their Execrable Principles transported them, that neither these Judgements of GOD, the severity of Our Laws, the steddiness of Our Justice, nor the many reiterated Acts of Our unparalelled Clemency, prevailed so far as to bring them to Duty: But on the contrary, as they were obdure●, to their utter destruction, severals of them do continue to own publicly their Hellish Principles, and upon all opportunities, to practise their Abominable Murders and Assassinations upon our good Subjects: And finding likewise, to Our great regrate, that People guilty of such Principles, and Practices, are not only not pursued by the Inhabitant of the Shires where they appear, but to the astonishment of all good men, are Concealed, Harboured, Entertained and Comforted, contrary to what Law and Duty required of all Our Subjects; and which being so dangerous to Religion, Government, the public Peace, the Lives and Fortunes of Our People, that it is not consistent with Our Justice or Honour, not to use the utmost Remedies against so inveterat and pernicious Mischiefs. And We having resolved to employ Our Royal Power to these ends, by these Methods and Procedurs, which hath been formerly used by Our Royal Predecessors, on all such occasions, Do therefore by this Our Royal Proclamation, Command and Charge all the Officers of Our Militia, both Horse and Foot, benorth the River of Forth to put themselves, and all under their Command, in present readiness, with fifteen days provision, well Armed, and sitted for Our Service, to march whither We, or those Commissionated by Us, shall direct them, on six days Warning. And that all Commissioners of Excise supply, and Militia give all speedy and possible Concurrence, for promoting this Our Service, as they will be answerable at their highest peril. And ordains these Presents to be Published at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and all Other Mercat Crosses of the Shires of this Kingdom, and to be Read by the several Ministers from their respective Pulpits, immediately after Divine Service in all their Churches upon a Sabbath day, that all persons concerned may have notice thereof; The which to do, We commit to you, conjunctly and severally, Our full Power, by this Our Letters, delivering them by you, duly execute, and endorsed again to the Bearer.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the twenty and second day of July, One thousand six hundred and eighty four. And of Our Reign, the thirtieth and six Year. Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii. WILL. PATERSON, Cl. Sti. Concilii.  
GOD save the KING.   

Edinburgh, printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, Anno DOM. 1684.